Milan ice cream ban: BBC News Review

Summary

In this BBC Learning English News Review, hosts Beth and Phil discuss a controversial plan by the Milan city council to ban the sale of ice cream and pizza late at night, following complaints from residents about noise. They explore key vocabulary from the headlines, including 'poised,' meaning ready for action, 'declares war on,' signifying a strong conflict, and 'sort of,' used to express something that isn't entirely certain. The episode emphasizes how language reflects the seriousness of the proposed changes while using everyday expressions.

Takeaways

• 🍦 Milan is considering a ban on the sale of ice cream and pizza late at night.
• 📢 The proposed ban is in response to noise complaints from local residents.
• 🏢 Critics argue that the ban could negatively impact local businesses.
• 📰 The term 'poised' in a headline suggests that Milan is ready to take dramatic action.
• 🐍 'Poised' is used metaphorically to indicate anticipation of a significant decision.
• 🛡️ The phrase 'declares war on' is used to describe a strong confrontation or conflict.
• 🗣️ 'Declares war on' is often used by politicians or in political journalism to denote strong action against a problem.
• 🍨 The headline 'Milan wants to ban gelato, pizza and other Italian favourites (sort of)' uses 'sort of' to indicate a partial or metaphorical ban.
• 🗣️ 'Sort of' is a common filler phrase used in spoken English, pronounced as 'sorta'.
• 🔄 The script discusses alternative phrases like 'kind of' and 'kinda' which have similar meanings to 'sort of'.
• 📺 The script is from BBC's News Review, aimed at helping English learners understand news headlines.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the BBC Learning English News Review?

The main topic is the proposal by the city council of Milan to ban the sale of ice cream and pizza late at night.

Why is Milan considering this ban?

Milan is considering the ban due to complaints about noise from local residents.

What are the critics' concerns regarding the proposed ban?

Critics are concerned that the ban will damage local businesses.

What does the term 'poised' mean in the context of the headline?

In the context of the headline, 'poised' means ready to act or take action, similar to how an animal might be ready to strike.

How is the phrase 'declares war on' used metaphorically in the script?

The phrase 'declares war on' is used metaphorically to indicate a strong confrontation or conflict between the city council and ice cream sellers, rather than literal warfare.

What does the expression 'sort of' imply in the headline from the Metro?

The expression 'sort of' implies that the ban is not absolute but is conditional, applying only after a certain time.

What is the pronunciation of 'sort of' in spoken English?

In spoken English, 'sort of' is often pronounced as 'sorta' or /sɔːtəv/.

What is another common filler expression similar to 'sort of'?

Another common filler expression similar to 'sort of' is 'kind of', which is often pronounced as 'kinda' or /kaɪndəv/.

What does the phrase 'ready for action' suggest about the city council's stance?

The phrase 'ready for action' suggests that the city council is prepared to take decisive measures regarding the proposed ban.

How does the script suggest that politicians or journalists use the term 'war on'?

The script suggests that politicians or journalists use the term 'war on' to announce strong action against a problem, such as 'war on unemployment' or 'war on drugs'.

What is the suggestion at the end of the script regarding ice cream?

The suggestion at the end of the script is to go and get ice cream, highlighting the importance of this food item in the context of the discussion.